President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tough stance on Ukraine being accepted as a member of NATO has drawn criticism because it is seen as benefiting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo/REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Retired general of the United States (US), Barry McCaffrey, criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tough attitude in pressing NATO for accepting Ukraine as a new member.
According to McCaffrey, such a move actually benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“For him to insist on this public stance, it seems to me stupid,” he told MSNBCwhich was launched on Wednesday (12/7/2023).
“It benefits Putin. He [Putin] wants to claim that he is fighting against NATO, not a criminal invasion from a neighboring country,” he said.
“So I think he is skiing here, and this is not good for Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO has been a sticking point between Kyiv and member states of the military alliance amid a NATO summit in Lithuania that started Tuesday.
Zelensky has pushed for a clearer timeline for when Ukraine could join NATO and has voiced frustration with the alliance’s leadership over its reluctance to extend an invitation to Kyiv that continues to resist a Russian invasion.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference Tuesday that Ukraine could only join the alliance after “conditions” were met, but gave no further details on those conditions.
2023-07-12 12:44:40
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